Alpine Little ready to Cash Out

28 June 2018Written by Jeff Collerson

Just .08sec - equivalent to a length - separates the heat winners but sectional times and the box draw indicate mighty midget Alpine Little will lead throughout in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Cash Out Final at Wentworth Park.

Rhythm Section won her heat in 30.12 while Alpine Little posted 30.13 with Irinka Lizzy the slowest at a still very respectable 30.20sec.

Each of those greyhounds are front-runners and whichever of the trio leads around the first corner will be in a strong winning position.

In the heats tiny Alpine Little, who tips the scales at a whippet-like 23.kg, posted sectional times of 5.45 and 13.96 while Irinka Lizzy took 5.48 and 14.00 with Rhythm Section recording 5.57 and 14.04.

Alpine Little raced wide from box three in her heat so is better positioned in box seven in Saturday night's final.

Her toughest rival could be Blitzing Lass, who chased Irinka Lizzy home in her heat and is ideally placed in box one.

Blitzing Lass had box six in her heat and was checked off Irinka Lizzy's heels at the first turn before being beaten just over four lengths.

"Last week's race should improve Blitzing Lass because she was having her first 520m run in five months,'' trainer Jodie Lagogiane said.

"I gave her a hit-out at Richmond on Tuesday to top her off for Saturday's race and she trialled very well.''

Mystic Riot, a new addition to Lagogiane's kennels, also has box one when she takes on the recent group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Classic runner-up Zipping Falcon in Saturday's most interesting clash.

The pair meet in the 520m Ladbrokes Greyhounds Previews Stakes with Mystic Riot having the advantage of box one ahead of Zipping Falcon, who has drawn four.

"Mystic Riot clocked a flying 30.49sec in a Richmond 535m trial for me on May 30 before winning there in 30.59 a week later,'' Lagogiane said.

"Then I trialled her at Wentworth Park last Saturday night and she covered the 520m in 29.95sec.

"Sky Wave, who won the top grade sprint in 29.84sec, was the only winner on the night to break the 30sec barrier.''

Zipping Falcon's trainer Jason Magri would have liked to have his dog drawn closer to the rails than box four but still gives his exciting youngster a strong chance.

"He wanted to veer hard left from box eight when he finished second in the Peter Mosman on June 16 and did the same thing when he won at Richmond from box seven on May 22,'' Magri said.

"So while box four is not great, Zipping Falcon is better off there than he would be if he had drawn six, seven or eight.''

The small field of six in the 720m Ladbrokes Info Hub Stakes makes up-and-coming long-distance performer Alotta Talk shape as Saturday night's best bet.

Alotta Talk, well drawn in box two, came from third with a lap to go to win over 720m at WP on June 20, clocking a handy 42.59sec.

While the Raymond Smith-trained kennelmates Big Daddy Bee and Midnight Treat have gone as fast as 42.18 and 42.41 at WP, they are front-runners who would be better suited in full fields of eight.

Big Daddy Bee and Midnight Treat are not noted for their strength at the finish of 720m and Alotta Talk, who powers to the finishing line, should have the drop on Smith's pair as they approach the home turn.